To everything there is a season. Some seasonal events, like spiced lattes in the fall, are a thing you look forward to. Others, like mosquito season, might be something you greet with less excitement. But the thing about seasons is that they always come back around.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November, with activity peaking around mid-September. That gives most families a generous window to prepare.
The problem is that most families don’t use that time. They wait until a storm is named and the cone is on the map. Then they’re competing for bottled water, plywood, and other hurricane emergency supplies alongside everyone else in a hundred-mile radius.
The households that come through hurricane season in the best shape are the ones that prepared beforehand, knowing they are likely to face a storm each season.
But how best to prepare? Let’s talk you through the steps that matter most and the mistakes that you should avoid when hurricane season gets active.
Before the Season Starts
The most effective hurricane preparation happens in the months before any storm is on the radar. Pre-season prep gives you time to carefully build your supply kit, rather than panic-buying whatever stores have left.
Start with your hurricane survival kit. A solid emergency kit should include at minimum:
- Water: one gallon per person per day for at least three days, ideally seven
- Non-perishable food that requires no cooking and has a long shelf life
- A first aid kit stocked with any prescription medications your household needs
- A hand-crank or battery-powered radio for alerts when the power goes out
- Flashlights, extra batteries, and a portable phone charger
- Copies of insurance policies, IDs, and prescriptions in a waterproof bag
Make it part of your annual routine to review your kit at the start of each hurricane season.
Swap out expired food and medications, replace old batteries, and make sure your kit still fits everyone in your household, including pets. Some items, like diapers, might need a new size, or you might no longer need them at all.
In addition to checking your emergency kit, you should map your evacuation routes before you need them.
It’s best to know at least two ways out of your neighborhood and identify a safe destination in advance, whether that’s a relative’s home, a hotel outside the projected impact zone, or a public shelter. If you have pets, confirm in advance that your destination accepts them.
When a Watch or Warning Is Issued
A hurricane watch being announced means dangerous conditions are possible within 48 hours. A warning means they are expected within 36 hours.
Both of these are prompts for action, and should be the catalyst you need to start preparing.
Fill water containers as soon as a watch is issued. The storm can disrupt municipal water service for days, and tap water can become unsafe after significant flooding. Fill bathtubs, large pots, and any clean containers you have on hand to create an emergency water supply. Pull your water filtration bottle out of your emergency kit and put it somewhere easily accessible.
Fill your gas tank that same day. In an evacuation scenario, fuel lines can stretch for hours, and stations can run dry quickly. Charge every device in your home: phones, portable power banks, any rechargeable medical equipment, and your hand-crank radio if it has a built-in battery pack. Once power goes out, you won’t have the chance, and you’ll wish you had gotten to it sooner.
Follow any evacuation order issued by your local emergency management office promptly. Traffic volume spikes within hours of an order, and the families who wait until the last minute might find themselves sitting on a highway with a storm on the way. Your home can be repaired or replaced, but your family can’t, so don’t put them at greater risk by waiting.
Evacuation orders exist because the projected surge or wind load in a given area exceeds what structures can reasonably handle.
A top tip is to download the FEMA and Red Cross Emergency apps before hurricane season starts. Both deliver real-time alerts, help you locate nearby open shelters, and include offline emergency guides that don’t require a cell signal to access. They are free and worth the storage space they take up on your device.
Mistakes That Leave Families Exposed
Most hurricane-preparation mistakes stem from assumptions that seem reasonable right up until they aren’t.
1. Waiting to Evacuate
The families who leave early move quickly and safely. The ones who wait until conditions look serious are more likely to get stuck in standstill traffic and feel vulnerable to a storm on the way.
Leave when officials say to leave; there’s no reason to wait and increase your risk.
2. Assuming Inland Means Safe
Inland flooding from tropical systems causes more fatalities in many storm cycles than a coastal storm surge does. Heavy rainfall, overwhelmed drainage infrastructure, and rising rivers don’t stop at the coast.
If you’re an hour or two inland, don’t consider yourself automatically in the clear, and keep an eye on alerts.
3. Driving Through Flooded Roads
Did you know that 6 inches of water is enough to knock an adult off their feet? Or that it only takes 2 feet of water to wash away a standard vehicle? Floodwater is a significant risk; in addition to its speed, it can hide downed power lines, washed-out pavement, and open drainage covers beneath the surface.
If flooding blocks your route, turn around and use your secondary evacuation route to get to safety.
4. Relying Entirely on Cell Service
Cell towers get overwhelmed or go offline during major storms. You should never rely on your cell phone or other smart devices to get essential information during a hurricane.
A battery-powered or hand-crank radio that receives NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts doesn’t need a signal or a data plan to keep you informed. It is an essential item in every hurricane kit.
After the Storm Passes
When the storm passes, and the sun finally peeks through the clouds again, it’s tempting to think all the dangers have passed.
But some hazards will remain. Some of the most avoidable post-hurricane injuries happen because people move too fast once conditions calm down.
If officials evacuate you, stay away until they confirm it is safe to return. Roads that at first appear passable can have hidden structural damage beneath the surface.
When you are back in your home, check for gas leaks before switching on lights or appliances. If you can smell gas, open your windows and leave the building immediately. Once safely outside, call your utility provider, and they will come and check your home.
Watch for standing water, and keep your family and pets away from it. Storm surge recedes slowly, and residual water can quickly become a contamination risk, containing raw sewage or chemical runoff.
Before you get to cleaning up and repairing damage, photograph and video every area affected by the storm. It’s natural to want to get back to normal and fix up your home as fast as possible, but your insurance claim may depend on that documentation. Don’t start work before you record the conditions, as this can significantly complicate the claim process.
Preparation Is the Advantage
Hurricanes are predictable enough that they shouldn’t catch you off guard. They aren’t a one-time freak event; hurricane season is consistent, technology provides for precise watches and warnings, and preparation measures are consistent from one season to the next.
At Emergency List, we believe a good emergency kit is one that’s already packed before you need it, not one you’re throwing together while the rain bands move in. Get your hurricane prep in order early, and you’ll spend the next storm watching the forecast with coffee in hand instead of scrambling for necessities.